Cleaning machine



c. M. OTIS 2,264,887

CLEANING MACHINE Filed March 4, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 2, 1941.

.INVENTOR CHARLES M. OTIS ATTORNE Dec. 2, 1941. c. M. QTIS CLEANING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1958 FIG.

B T o R OM m 0 6 7n L /A IR A H Y B 5 m Cl c. M. OTIS 2,264,887

CLEANING MACHINE Dec. 2, 1941 Filed March 4, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l X l l A l I l v INVENTOR CHARLES M. OTIS Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED STATE s PAT O F CE". f

2,264,887 M CLEANINGMACHINE Charles M. Otis, Goldwater, N. 1., 'a ssignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwood, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application March 4,1938, Serial No. 193,885 14 Claims. (o s4-2) This invention relates to improvements inapparatus for treating small, light particles in bulk which are of the type adapted to be conveyed in an air stream.v I have selected feathers as representative of that class of materials and have described an embodiment of my invention forcleaning, sterilizing, and reconditioning-old feathers by a batch process. I

Many of the machines heretofore used in the treating or renovating of feathers have required the passage of the feathers through a fan or blower. This is detrimental to the feathers because it causes breakage of the quills. The resiliency of a feather depends largely on the natural arch of the quill, therefore if this is broken the feather is greatly deteriorated;

An object of the present invention is to handle the feathers in a compartment or container by loading the feathers directly into the container, treating them therein, and unloading the feathers directly from said container all without the passage of the feathers through a fan or' blower or other tortuous conduits.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a feather treating compartment with aperture means for loading and unloading feathers and a blower connected by conduit means both with the compartment and with the atmosphere so that a suction may be created in said compartment for introducing feathers thereinto, and pressure may be created in said compartment for unloading feathers therefrom, or a recirculation of air from the compartment to the blower and back is possible fortreating, cleaning and sterilizing and drying the feathers. My invention also includes the arrangement of such a compartment, blower and conduits, together with necessary accessories such as filter means, air heating means and feather steaming means in a very compact arrangement.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of suitable control means for carrying out the various operations mentioned in the preceding paragraph, together with suitable interlocks between the control means preventing false operation thereof.

Another advantageous feature of my invention is the provision of a compact unit comprising a plurality of feather treating containers arranged with loading, treating and unloading means so designed that one operator may efficiently control the treating of a plurality of batches of feathers simultaneously.

Another novel feature of my invention is the arrangement of a plurality of feather treating containers connected by suitable conduit means with a single blower whereby the necessary operations incident to handling and treating a plurality of batches of feathers may be carried out in each container without interrupting the operations in a companion container.

I Other novel features reside in the arrangement of the parts whereby I get the most eflicient operatlons, all of which will more clearly appear in the accompanying specification and drawingsand the essential features of which will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. -.1 is a front elevation of my novel feather cleaning machine with parts of the front panel broken away to show the interior parts Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine with portions of the side panels broken away to more clearly show the construction; Fig. 3- is a sectional plan view taken along theline 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a substantially horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig.5 is a detail sectional elevation taken on the line 5- -5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a fragmental detail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 with the partscorresponding to the dot-dash position of Fig. 2; Fig. '7 is a fragmental sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1; while Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

While many of the features of my novel apparatus are applicable to a single compartment or container for treating abatch of feathers or the like, I have chosen to illustrate the same as embodied in a machine comprising a plurality of compartments designed as a single unit encased in one housing and servicedby a single blower as this is the most economical form of my invention. In the embodiment shown two containers are mounted side by side in a casing comprising a steel framework Ill enclosed by panels'll to form a housing for the entire operating equipment. In much of the structure hereinafter described the parts of one treating unit are exactly duplicated in the companion unit so that one unit only will be described, namely that in. which the reference characters are given the sumx a, it being understood that where. duplicate parts are found in the associated unit they will have the same reference character together with the suffix b. Where no suffix is used it will be understood that there is but one such part functioning for'both units.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 4, I provide two substantially cylindrical containers I21: and I2b mounted side by side with a slight space [3 between. them. These containers are substantially cylindrical in vertical section except that the rear wall extends tangentially downward. the bottom wall extends tangentially rearward and the air inlet conduit I4 is connected to an opening such as that shown at Ila, Fig. 2, in such a manner that air enters the compartment tangentially so as to'give a swirling action within the compartment, aiding greatly in keeping the feathers stirred up. Each of these openings is closed by a door lia or l6b opening into the container only and closed by gravity. Located centrally of the containers is a rotatable shaft l'l carrying a plurality of feather agitators it, each carrying flexible scrapers i 9 engaging the walls of the container so as to free them of clinging feathers. The rotating arms also carry the agitator or breaker blades It. On one end of shaft I1 is driving mechanism which is driven by motor 'II. The control button for this motor is shown at 22. Each compartment may be provided with a lamp as shown at 23a for lighting the interior of the compartment and with a window 24a for inspection. A loading hopper is provided at the side of the container at a suitable height for the operator as shown at 25a. This hopper has a screened false bottom 26a permitting heavy particles mixed with the feathers to drop into that space of the hopper as feathers are loaded. This space may be cleaned through the door 28a. Aperture means for ingress of feathers to the compartment is provided between the hopper and the container and this is closed by the door 21a which is held closed by the latch 28a. A springpressed latch 29a holds the door open while feathers are being loaded.

Feather unloading aperture means is provided in the container wall at 30a and this is closed by a; door am which is manipulated by the handle 32a. A nozzle 33a at this unloading door is equipped to accommodate feather receiving means such as a tick which may be fastened to the carding wire 34a. Excess fabric may be folded beneath the clamp 35a which is held in posi tion by the wheel 38a.

The upper wall of container He is provided with a screened opening between the points 3111 and 38a which communicates with conduit means 38a terminating in a valved opening 40a which is closed by a slide lla operable through a suitable linkage connected with the control member 42a at the front of the machine.

Suitable filter means is provided between the aperture 40a and the interior of the casing or housing I l and in the form shown this comprises a fabric or stocking filter 43a.

A blower H is mounted on a suitable bracket 45 in the lower part of the casing and connected by a driving belt 45 to the motor 41. The control button for this motor is shown at 48. One of the blower outlets has already been indicated at H. A second or atmospheric outlet is shown at 49 passing upwardly and out at the top rear portion of the casing. Valve means 50 is movable between the broken line position of Fig. 2 where it closes conduit l4 and the dot-dash position where it opens conduit I4 and at the same time closes off the major portion of the outlet to conduit 49. The control of this valve is through lever SI and control member 52 extending to the front of the machine.

Interlock means is provided preventing the movement of valve 50 to the dot-dash position of Fig. 2 when door 21a is open for a loading operation. This means comprises a link 53 connected with levers 54, 55a and 55b which are ing the feathers in compartment [2a.

position, rod 51a moves forwardly through a holein the wall of hopper 25a to overlie the door 21a thus preventing opening of that door so long as control member 52 is in its forward position.

Two air inlet means are provided for blower 44. The atmospheric air inlet is indicated at It and the other inlet at 58 communicates with the interior of the housing or casing II. In the form shown a compartment formed by division wall ill extends downwardly below the feather containers and is provided at its lower end with heating means such as the steam coils 6!. The air inlet conduit 59 communicates with the space surrounded by the partition 60 above the heating coils.

Means is provided for selectively opening either the inlet 58 or 59 to the blower 44 while closing the other of said inlets. This comprises the valve 62 which is movable between the broken line position of Fig. 2 to the dot-dash line thereof by means of suitable mechanism connected with pedal 63 at the front of the machine. A spring 64 normally maintains this pedal in raised position which corresponds to the dashline position of valve 62.

Means is provided for steaming and steriliz- This comprises a steam spray nozzle 65a in the bottom wall of the compartment connected by a suitable steam line 56a and controlled by the valve 61a having an actuator at 88a. This valve may be provided with automatic timing mechanism if desired so as to hold it open a predetermined length of time.

During the treating of the feathers in container l2a the lighter foreign particles separated therefrom pass upwardly and eventually are caught in the filter 43a. Heavy particles of foreign matter and pieces of quill and the like are dropped out of the bottom of the container by the novel means shown. This comprises a plurality of slots 69a formed by cutting the tongues 10a out of the sheet metal of the wall material, which tongues are then pressed outwardly a slight distance to provide parallel walls slightly spaced from the main wall of the container thus leaving openings through which the heavy particles may drop without danger of feathers lodging in the slots. Particles separated at this point drop into the drawer Ha which may be removed at the side of the casing for dumping. This drawer has a suitable housing 12a.

At 13a is indicated a timer which may be set by the operator when a batch of feathers is loaded and treatment starts and a signal Ha operated by the timer indicates when the batch is finished and ready to be removed. A snap switch 15 controls the lamps 23a and 23b. At 16 is indicated the steam pressure on the heater 6! and at 11 is indicated the temperature of the warm air when a recirculation takes place during a feather treating operation.

The operation of my improved feather treating apparatus is as follows. The blower motor 4! is started and also motor 2| which moves the agitator arms l8. To load feathers into compartment l2a the control member 52 is moved the enclosed space at 60, conduit 59, blower 44 and conduit 49 to atmosphere.

For a treating operation in compartment 12a disregarding for a moment compartment l2b, door 21a is now closed. If sterilization and steaming of the feathers is desired, control member 68a is manipulated to open valve 61a admitting steam through the spray 65a for a desired period. If desired the slide valve 4la may be closed at this time. It will be understood that any other feather treating ingredients may be introduced into the compartment l2a at this time if desired.

Following the steaming or other sterilizing or treating operation, a cleaning and drying period is generally utilized. For this operation control member 52 is pulled forward moving valve 50 to the dot-dash position of Fig. 2. If, during the sterilizing period, the slide valve 4la has been closed, it is now opened. The flow of air is now from compartment 12a through conduit 39a, filter 43a, casing ll, heater 6|, conduit 59, blower 44 and back through conduit 14 and door lBa to the compartment while a small amount of the air discharged from blower 44 passes out conduit 49. Fresh make-up air enters casing II through the louver openings 18. It will be understood that casing H is substantially air-tight except for these louver openings. During this period the feathers are cleaned and dried, the light dust material passing into filter 43a and heavy foreign particles passing into drawer I la.

During the cleaning and drying operation the feather receiving means such as a tick is placed on the nozzle 33a in preparation for unloading. When the signal lamp 14a indicates the completion of the treating cycle, control member 42a is moved rearwardly closing valve Ma and lever 32a is moved to open the closure 3la. Pedal 63 is then depressed, closing conduit 59 and opening conduit 58. Air now passes through conduit 58, blower 44 and conduit I4 to compartment l2a where pressure is built up carrying the feathers out the nozzle 33a. and into the tick.

It is understood that during the above cycle of operations the arms l8 are rotating continuously to break up any tendency of the feathers to collect in a ball and to keep the walls of the compartment, including the screened portion thereof, clear of feathers. It will also be understood that because of the tangential arrangement of the air stream entering from conduit l4 these agitator arms need not be moved as rapidly as would otherwise be the case. This tangential air stream keeps the feathers stirred up both during a treating operation and during the unloading of the compartment.

The operation for a plurality of compartments is exactly the same because as soon as the operator has loaded compartment l2a and closed the door 21a, she may then go to the other side of the machine to load compartment l2b. For this operation control member 421) is pulled forward, opening the valve Mb. Then door 21b is opened and feathers are placed in the hopper 25b in the manner just described for the other compartment. 2

If' it'is desired the sterilizing operation for compartment l2a may be performed immediately upon closing the door 21a in which case-the control member 42a would be moved rearwardly blocking off this compartment before the steam valve 61a is opened. The operator would then move to the other side of the machine for the loading operation in compartment l2b while sterilizin was going on in Ha. Following the loading of compartment l2b, the valve 4!!) would be closed during the sterilizing operation in compartment 121).

During the loading operation in compartment 12b, when compartment In is blocked off for a sterilizing operation, the suction created in compartment l2b might be great enough to draw feathers from the compartment 12a through the openings l6a and I6?) and the duct l4 common to both. This is prevented'by the door l6a which permits passage of air only in the direction into the compartment PM.

It is possible to load in one compartment while cleaning and drying in the other compartment. This may be accomplished by movement of the control member 52 to the rearward position closing the valve during the interval of time required for loading. This interrupts the cleaning and drying operation in the other compartment but only for the brief time required for loading.

It is possible to unload in one compartment while cleaning and drying in theother. This is accomplished by closing the valve 4; or b for the compartment to be unloaded and opening the respective unloading door 3la'or b, whereupon the recirculated air will unload the feathers. The valve 62 may be closed by depressing pedal 63 if it is desired to perform this unloading operation with cool air from the outside. This of course will inject cool air into the other compartment for the short period of time required for an unloading operation.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of containers for material to be treated, there being closable aperture means in each container wall adapted for unrestricted opening to atmosphere, a suction fan, conduits connecting said fan with each of said containers 'to withdraw air from any of said containers, means for exhausting air from said fan directly to atmosphere, and control means for selectively controlling the admission of air through the aperture means of any one of said containers to carry material into the said one container.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a container substantially cylindrical in vertical section, there being closable material inlet and outlet openings through a wall of said container, a blower having an inlet and an outlet, conduit means between the upper portion of said container and said blower inlet and screened at the end nearer the container, means for closing said conduit means between said blower inlet and said container, and conduit means between the lower portion of said container and said blower outlet, said last named means entering said container tangentially of the cylinder.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a container substantially cylindrical in vertical sec-' tion, there being closable material inlet and outlet openings through a wall of said container, a blower having an inlet and an outlet, conduit means between the upper portion of -said container and said blower inlet and screened at the end nearer the container, means for closing said conduit means between said blower inlet and said container, conduit means between the lower portion oi said container and said blower outlet, said last named means entering said container tangentially oi the cylinder, air filter mean in said first named conduit means, and air heater means in one of said conduit means.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality of containers for material to be treated, there being closable aperture means in the walls of each container for ingressand egress of material, one blower, conduit means from each container to the inlet side of said blower, each screened at the end nearer said container, conduit means from each container to the outlet side of said blower, valve means for closing each of said first named conduit means, and valve blower, conduit means between the upper portion means in said second named conduit means for a each container, said last named valve means opening only toward said container.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a filter in said first named conduit means, and heating means in one of said conduit means.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality oi containers for material to be treated,

there being closable aperture means in the walls of each container for ingress and egress of material, one blower, conduit means from each container to the inlet side of said blower, each screened at its end nearer said container, an atmospheric inlet for said blower, conduit means from each container to the outlet side of said blower, an atmospheric outlet for said blower, valve means for closing each of said first named conduit means, valve means for closing said second named conduit means for each container, valve means for selectively connecting said first named conduit means or said inlet to said blower, and valve means for selectively connecting said second named conduit means or said outlet to said blower.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality of containers for material to be treated, there being closable aperture means in the walls of each container for ingress and egress of material, one blower, conduit means from each container to the inlet side of said blower, each screened at its end nearer said container, an atmospheric inlet for said blower, conduit means from each container to the outlet side of said blower, an atmospheric outlet for said blower, valve means for closing each of said first named conduit means, valve means for closing said second named conduit means for each container, air filter means in said first named conduit means, air heating means in one of said conduit means, valve mean for selectively connecting said first named conduit means or said inlet to said blower, and valve means for selectively connecting said second named conduit means or said outlet to said blower.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, there being an opening in a wall of said container for admission of material, a door for closing said opening, a blower having air intake and discharge connections with said container, said blower also having an atmospheric discharge connection, valve means for closing one of said discharge connections and opening the other of said discharge connections, and interlock means preventing operation of said valve means to open said discharge connection to said container when said door is open.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a con- 01- said container and said blower inlet and screened at the end nearer the container, conduit means between the lower portion of said eon tainer and said blower outlet, said last named means entering said container tangentially oi the cylinder, an atmospheric inlet for said blower, and means for selectively closing each of said blower inlets, whereby with said container-connected inlet open a recirculation through said blower occurs and with said atmospheric inlet open and with said material outlet open material may be discharged from said container, all with the agitating action of the air stream entering said cylindrical container tangentially.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, there being an opening through a wall of said container, a closure for said opening, a blower, air inlet means for said blower communicating with said container and screened at the container end thereof, air inlet means direct from atmosphere to said blower, air outlet mean for said blower communicating with said container, and means for closing said first named air inlet means while opening said second named air inlet means.

11. In apparatus ofthe class described, a container for material to be treated, there being an opening in a wall of said container for admission of material, a door for closing said opening, a blower having air intake and discharge connections with said container, said blower also having an atmospheric discharge connection, valve means for closing one of said discharge connections and opening the other of said discharge connections, and interlock mean preventing opening of said door when said container discharge connection is open.

12. In a machine of the class described, a container for material to be treated, there being closable aperture means in a wall of said container for ingress and egress of material, there being a screened opening in a wall of said container, a conduit communicating with said opening, means for closing said conduit against appreciable loss of air from said container through said opening, a hopper associated with aid aperture means for ingress of material, means for creating a suction in said container for loading material thereinto from said hopper, said suction means including conduit means for directing a moving stream of air through said screened opening, means for producing a pressure in said container for unloading material therefrom when said first named conduit is closed, an air heater, and means for circulating. a stream of air through said heater and through material in said container and then through said screened opening, there being mean for escape of at least a portion of said stream of air to atmosphere.

13. In a machine of the class described, a container for material to be treated, having a wall provided with closable aperture means for ingress and egress of material, a blower having container-communicating intake' and discharge connections, said blower also having direct atmospheric air intake and discharge connections, valve means for opening said container-communicating intake connection and for opening said atmospheric discharge connection while closing said container-communlcating discharge and said atmospheric intake connections to create a material loading suction at said aperture means, and valve means for opening said atmospheric intake connection and for opening said containercommunicating discharge connection while closing said atmospheric discharge and containercommunicating intake connections to create a material unloading pressure at said aperture means.

14. In apparatus of the class described, a container for material to be treated, having a wall provided with closable aperture means for ingress and egress of material, a blower having an inlet and an outlet, conduit means between the upper portion of said container and said blower inlet and screened at the end nearer the container, conduit means between the lower portion of said container and said blower outlet, a second blower inlet independent of said container, means for opening said two conduit means and for closing said material ingress and egress aperture means to cause a circulation through said container, and means for opening said second blower inlet and for closing said first named blower inlet and for opening said second named conduit means and for closing said first named conduit means and for opening said material egress aperture means to cause material unloading pressure in said container.

' CHARLES M. OTIS. 

